We did our film-school homework this week, viewing a few Academy Award winners as announced last Sunday.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): “A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.” (IMDb).

Won for best picture. Best director. Best original screenplay. Cinematography. And we lovvvvved it. Keaton, a Pittsburgh native, has always been a favourite of modern actors. Tugging at my little soul, his character effectively makes me suffocated and trapped. His character’s life is so so so common, I think, of middle-aged persons. Stuck into the rut of everyday life, trying to outdo your person of 20-years ago, pining to be happy, but having each day turn into groundhog day, it’s so sad. Reminded me very much of The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Washed up and trying to get it back. Oh, gosh, and Emma Stone looks HOT. She lost a ton of weight for the film, I think; and I’ve not even googled articles on critical feedback on her weight because I just bet she’s taken a load from haters on this piece. What an amazing job. In fact, she’s the outstanding actor in this film, in my opinion. Everyone else just supports her. Maybe that’s because I’m partial to girls with addiction. 🙂

Boyhood: “The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.” (IMDb).

Won for best supporting actress (Patricia Arquette). And we loved it. Viewed this a few weeks ago. With hesitation. Why? Because I don’t have interest in raising a human child in a traditional family scenario, so I didn’t think it would be important to me. But studying the relationships of the characters really blew my mind. Watching these characters develop over the course of 12 years in a film = brilliant. I have always adored the sexy Ethan Hawke ever since he met Gwyneth Paltrow at the water fountain (as adults) in Great Expectations (1998), and he absolutely exceeded my great expectations in Boyhood. Patricia Arquette has always been interesting to me because she’s a bigger lady with feist, at least on screen. She compelled Boardwalk Empire, and she did it again in Boyhood! Proves that skinny isn’t the selling point of a character. So if you’ve ever raised a family of human children, or if you are curious about interfamily dynamics, this is really good to see. Oh ya, did you see Arquette’s acceptance speech? Proves she’s feisty off-screen, too. So good and liberal, and Meryl Streep’s reaction made me smile and clap.

The Theory of Everything: “A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.” (IMDb).

Won for best actor (Eddie Redmayne). I’ve wanted to view this film since coming across the trailer sometime last year. Alas, going to the theatre is inconvenient because I can’t (legally) bring my dog! Wink wink. So, we waited until this week when it became available on iTunes, and of course we loved it. The science reminded me of Atlas Shrugged. The language brought the bubbling independent Anglophile in me to surface. And the film actually made me want to be loved. By a human. Well, it made me curious to know what it would be like, to be loved by another human being, not out of obligation, but out of want. And I’ve never had that inclination before. It’s a rational story of science, of love, of life. A very beautiful story. I’ve ordered Stephan Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, and we’ll tell you what we think, after it’s been read.

To be seen: Wild, Still Alice, Foxcatcher, Whiplash.

Tonight we couldn’t quite decide on the “spirit” to decorate our new film selection, Marisa Tomei and Hugh Grant’s…

The Rewrite: “An Oscar-winning writer in a slump leaves Hollywood to teach screenwriting at a college on the East Coast, where he falls for a single mom taking classes there.” (IMDb).

Let’s stop right there. MARISA TOMEI. HUGH GRANT. No, this is not an award winner (yet). But these delightful actors command a lot more than a dirty martini. They command a lovely wine that is so pleasing to the brain that you feel like you’re sitting in the room together, smiling at their onscreen presence, silently knowing that they know you’re admiring their talent and beauty. So as I scavenged the liquor store today, I could decide NOT on a wonderful wine and left empty-handed, that was, of course, until I spotted a uniquely tall and thin body at the Chairman’s Selection display at the door, reminding me of an elegant skyscraper.

It felt and looked perfect in my hand. Oh! And do check out the cool drop of wine, suspended into air, that I captured on the first pour!

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My name is Nicole Marie Story. I am the creative director of The Yoga Ballerina, an editorial on yoga, peloton, politics, and my dog. I believe in human perfection and strive for that state in everything that I do. Having lived with an eating disorder for 17.5 years, I am presently writing a book on how I crushed the disorder and achieved joyful living. Gwendolyn is my fur baby, and together we create adventures which I convert into written and verbal stories through my blog and podcast. Namaste!